Weekly Steam News (08/07/05)

[Chris D]

The following weekly update has been released over Steam, right on time - as usual:

This week Ritual announced Sin Episodes, in development on Source that will be distributed via Steam. This is exciting for us here at Valve as we've always envisioned Steam being a way for other game developers to put games in front of customers, and over the next year we'd like to have a number of new games for you all to try out. You can get more information about Sin Episodes over at the official website, and we'll be including more information here as Ritual approaches release of the first episode later this year.[br]

 

[^Ben]

Awww was hoping for more lost coast or DOD: S, ah well can't get it all.

 

[Chris D]

I think we've had our fair share of new information over the past 7 days

 

[TheUnkillableDot]

Isn't this old news?

 

[Chris D]

No - it's the weekly Steam news update that was released an hour or so ago.

The information in it might not necessarily be news to everyone, but we cover every single Steam news bulletin, regardless of whether the content is old or new.

 

[aeroripper]

another worhtless update

 

[Chris D]

another worhtless update

Yeah, this is so much worse than last year when they didn't communicate anything for months on end...

 

[Ennui]

Yeah, no kidding... they could just NOT tell us anything like most companies.

 

[aeroripper]

Yeah, this is so much worse than last year when they didn't communicate anything for months on end...

agreed

 

[jdufault]

Im predicting Lost Coast and DOD news next week.

I mean what else are they going to have news on?

Gunman Chronicals 2....released on steam *gulp* :x

 

[Asuka]

I think we've had our fair share of new information over the past 7 days

True that! :farmer:

 

[Dekstar]

So hold on, aren't VALVe technically Ritual's publishers? I mean ritual are probably paying VALVe to have access to steam, or am I wrong?

 

[Salamandra]

I don't think so. Ritual are paying Valve to use steam, but I don't think they get a cut of the sales.

 

[Dekstar]

I don't think so. Ritual are paying Valve to use steam, but I don't think they get a cut of the sales.

Yeah but if more companies start using steam, then all VALVe is doing is becoming a publisher through steam... I mean they get their name on all Steam-sold products and everything.

 

[Salamandra]

Well... the only "product" you get is Steam and the games that you've bought on it. There's no packaging or anything, and the games aren't going to have "Valve" painted everywhere.

Yes, Valve are effectively publishing the games, but they're in an entirely different position than normal publishers.

 

[Dekstar]

Well... the only "product" you get is Steam and the games that you've bought on it. There's no packaging or anything, and the games aren't going to have "Valve" painted everywhere.

Yes, Valve are effectively publishing the games, but they're in an entirely different position than normal publishers.

Well if you look at that SiN 2 picture you'll actually see VALVe printed on it - could be on the start screen too.

And true they're not being payed as much or anything, but they could still start pushing for games to come out as they are paying for all those servers and bandwidth they're hosting. They also need the publicity of the amazing Steam system, so if game developers decide to really take their time, then VALVe _could_ start pushing.

 

[johnshafft]

They are not publishing they are distributing

 

[KagePrototype]

They are not publishing they are distributing

Same thing buddy.

 

[jdufault]

They are not publishing they are distributing

Same thing buddy.

I dont know much about this, if anything, but is it?

Cause with the addition of steam, it seems there arent any more publishers...only distributers. Disbuters of the game, nothing gets "published" anymore really...

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

I don't think so. Ritual are paying Valve to use steam, but I don't think they get a cut of the sales.

I bet you they do.

 

[omikron]

as usual Valve came up with a great idea, big step forward for the industry and they r getting it first. very smart move and I cant wait to play this game btw.

 

[omikron]

and yeah I m pretty sure they get a cut of the sale, basically what you save from not printing CDs, CD cases, shipping etc you may as well 'give it' to Valve, you still save more money, they get some money too, everyone is happy apart from your empty shelf.

 

[Salamandra]

I still don't think they get money from the sales, but they will get money for the bandwidth use that SiN causes, likely a fair bit more than it costs Valve. So Valve effectively would be getting a cut of sales.

 

[Dekstar]

I still don't think they get money from the sales, but they will get money for the bandwidth use that SiN causes, likely a fair bit more than it costs Valve. So Valve effectively would be getting a cut of sales.

... Which just makes them a cheap publisher?

I would try and make a metaphore, but I couldn't think of anything...

 

[KagePrototype]

I dont know much about this, if anything, but is it?

Cause with the addition of steam, it seems there arent any more publishers...only distributers. Disbuters of the game, nothing gets "published" anymore really...

Well, publishers are the distributors, so they're effectively the same thing; you're just dealing with a different mode of distribution when it comes to Steam, rather than traditional retail.

 

[johnshafft]

Same thing buddy.

I know your joking but for those that dont know yes there is a differnce.

a Publisher is somebody who prepares and issues material for public distribution or sale.

While a distributer spreads out the material.

what steam is allowing is Develioper to Distributer to End Buyer. It is removing the Publisher, Producer, and retailer that is in most traditional game delivery. The Publisher and the producer are typically in tandum with each other but not always. That traditional model is this: Develioper to Publisher to Producer to Distributer to Retailer to End Buyer. Which means the end buyer has to pay more. So looking at the Stream Model you can see theres less people wanting a bit of money so the Developers make more while the End Buyer has to pay less

 

[Insano]

I bet you they do.

Accepted

I'm going to send an email to Gabe

 

[Dekstar]

what steam is allowing is Develioper to Distributer to End Buyer. It is removing the Publisher, Producer, and retailer that is in most traditional game delivery. The Publisher and the producer are typically in tandum with each other but not always. That traditional model is this: Develioper to Publisher to Producer to Distributer to Retailer to End Buyer. Which means the end buyer has to pay more. So looking at the Stream Model you can see theres less people wanting a bit of money so the Developers make more while the End Buyer has to pay less

How much are we going to pay for each episode again? $60? Isn't that usually how much a normal retail game costs?

 

[johnshafft]

How much are we going to pay for each episode again? $60? Isn't that usually how much a normal retail game costs?

under $20 for 6 hr sp, MP hasnt been announced yet. Plus Ritual controls the price so the next episodes could be even less, depending on the buyers response.

lasttime I checked an average game was $50-60 and provided 12-15hr sp, a dvd was $15-20 for 100 minutes, and a CD was $11-15 for 45-60 minutes.

 

[Dekstar]

under $20 for 6 hr sp, MP hasnt been announced yet. Plus Ritual controls the price so the next episodes could be even less, depending on the buyers response.

lasttime I checked an average game was $50-60 and provided 12-15hr sp, a dvd was $15-20 for 100 minutes, and a CD was $11-15 for 45-60 minutes.

Still, could be less imo. Anyway any particular reason why they're releasing the damned thing in episodes?

 

[MjM]

Bandwidth issue probably.

 

[johnshafft]

Still, could be less imo. Anyway any particular reason why they're releasing the damned thing in episodes?

Asking for sub$15 for 6hrs of SP, and MP is a lot for the first episode, They deserve to be paid for thier work just as muchas we deserve to be paid for outr work. Remeber they do have to pay Valve for the engine and its not cheap.

There is several reasons for going in episode format vs all at once:

- Content is released earlier. Which means the episodes could become self supporting. and with that the price could actually drop

- Each episode has its own decision tree that helps shape the plot. If you desided to not help somebody then they moght not be able to help you latter in the future or even worse they might turn on you. Think Fable to a lesser degree. This is very cool for SP as it allows you to play games that you want to play. Each Episode will be its own story but will be part of the larger story.

- It will have a longer vitality than a traditional game. As you will get to play for longer time. This will also keep it in the forefront of everybodys mind as new episodes could be realease 2-4 months apart.

What hasnt been discussed is additional content delevery it is quite possible that Ritual could bundle and distribute homebrew maps, skins, texs, etc. and be able to give back to the community itself, ie get payed for your creations. This will allow for excellent MP as it will allow for team/clan skins and maps to be officially supported.

 

[Chris D]

People have been wanting Episodic content in games for years, and now people are moaning. Typical.

 

[Dekstar]

People have been wanting Episodic content in games for years, and now people are moaning. Typical.

Well I haven't wanted episodic content, so my 'moaning' is alright, even though I'm not .

Only problem I can see with the whole helping later on thing is how they're going to do it.